A TOTAL of 5,920 children are living in poverty in Warrington – 15.3 per cent of the 0-15 age group – despite the town being seen as a relatively affluent borough.
Warrington’s employment rate of 76 per cent is significantly higher than the national average of 70 per cent, the borough has a higher skilled workforce than seen either regionally or nationally – but the town’s progress in reducing child poverty levels has not been as successful as anticipated.
Since 2009, the number of children living in families in receipt of out-of-work benefits has increased from 4,030 to the present 5,920.
This is revealed in the borough council’s annual report on child poverty.
In fact, Warrington ranks in the 25 per cent of local authorities in England with the lowest percentage of children in poverty.
But the figures for the borough as a while conceal big differences across the borough, with the eight most deprived wards having much higher figures.
The number of children in poverty (with percentage of the 0-15 age group in brackets) in the eight wards is as follows:
Bewsey and Whitecross: 805 (30.5); Birchwood: 400 (20.9); Fairfield and Howley: 615 (26.4); Latchford East: 415 (25.8); Latchford West: 165 (17.4); Orford: 600 (26.8); Poplars and Hulme 760 (32.1); Poulton North: 500 (26.0).
The report points out that although Warrington’s employment rate is higher than average, earnings have declined over the past three years from an all-time high of £503.70 a week to £492.30 a week.
Benefit claims are in line with regional and national averages and in the most deprived wards, the claimant count is much higher than the national average.
An increased population has increased demand for homes – particularly for socially rented accommodation. The number of applications has risen over three years from 7,651 to 10,968.
Gaps in attainment between children eligible for school meals and those who are not have widened in both writing and science, remained the same in maths and, although they have reduced in reading, still remain wider than the national average.
At the same time, weight and obesity continue to be a key area of need for children in Warrington, with the proportion of overweight children significantly increasing between starting school and Year 6.
The report is to be considered by the borough council’s Supporting the Local Economy Policy Committee.
Warrington's 5,920 children in poverty
22 Comments
Share.
2 Comments
So it is assumed that all 5920 children in families on benefits is in poverty, what a load of cobblers. The same report notes that that weight and obesity is a problem, why does anybody take any notice of the garbage that experts and statisticians churn out? I suppose it gives a fancy titled committee something to read to pass the time.
The children who’s parents are on benefits will be better off that the ones of who’s parents work 50 hours a week at the national minimum wage!